Conservative Donnybrook

Of course, by now, almost everybody is aware of Stanley Kurtz’s latest story. A few weeks ago, Kurtz wrote a story for National Review outlining Obama’s prior connection with terrorist Bill Ayers’ project, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. He reported that it was known that Ayres had founded an organization that sought to reform education in Chicagoland schools. It was further known that Barack Obama became the chairman of the Annenberg board shortly thereafter. Of course, when Obama kicked off his first political campaign from the home of Ayers and his wife, Bernadine Dohrn, another terrorist associated with the notorious Weather Underground, it was reasonable to believe that Obama’s relationship with Ayers and Dohrn was quite close.

Kurtz reasoned that the records for the CAC might reveal how closely Obama and Ayers were associated. He contacted the Richard J. Daley Library at the University of Chicago and was told that he would be given access to the copious records which they housed. Shortly thereafter, as Kurtz was preparing to leave for Chicago, he received a phone call from the library telling him that he would not be given access after all. Since that time, Kurtz has been attempting to gain access to the records. On Tuesday the library reversed itself and opened the records.

Yesterday, Kurtz appeared on a Chicago radio station to talk about the Ayers-Obama connection. The Obama campaign reacted strongly, writing an email to supporters urging them to deluge WGN radio with phone calls and emails:

August 28, 2008
In the next few hours, we have a crucial opportunity to fight one of the most cynical and offensive smears ever launched against Barack.

Tonight, WGN radio is giving right-wing hatchet man Stanley Kurtz a forum to air his baseless, fear-mongering terrorist smears. He’s currently scheduled to spend a solid two-hour block from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. pushing lies, distortions, and manipulations about Barack and University of Illinois professor William Ayers.

Tell WGN that by providing Kurtz with airtime, they are legitimizing baseless attacks from a smear-merchant and lowering the standards of political discourse.

Call into the “Extension 720″ show with Milt Rosenberg at (312) 591-7200

(Show airs from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. tonight)

Then report back on your call at http://my.barackobama.com/WGNstandards

Kurtz has been using his absurd TV appearances in an awkward and dishonest attempt to play the terrorism card. His current ploy is to embellish the relationship between Barack and Ayers.

Just last night on Fox News, Kurtz drastically exaggerated Barack’s connection with Ayers by claiming Ayers had recruited Barack to the board of the Annenberg Challenge. That is completely false and has been disproved in numerous press accounts.

It is absolutely unacceptable that WGN would give a slimy character assassin like Kurtz time for his divisive, destructive ranting on our public airwaves. At the very least, they should offer sane, honest rebuttal to every one of Kurtz’s lies.

Kurtz is scheduled to appear from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the Chicago market.

Calling will only take a minute, and it will make a huge difference if we nip this smear in the bud. Confront Kurtz tonight before this goes any further:

http://my.barackobama.com/WGNstandards

Please forward this email to everyone you know who can make a call tonight.

Keep fighting the good fight,

Obama Action Wire

Interestingly, the Obama campaign reserves words like “slimy,” “fear-mongering,” and “divisive, destructive ranting” for Stanley Kurtz, while referring to Bill Ayers as a “guy from the neighborhood.” It seems, with panicked rhetoric like this emanating from the Obama camp, that Kurtz might have hit a nerve. And, sadly, the Obama campaign, instead of dealing with the accusation, seeks to silence the media. So much for the First Amendment.

The message has been effective. Obama’s minions, those people who always seem to be calling for open-mindedness and tolerance, have responded by flooding the show with phone calls and emails in an effort to punish the station for airing views which are divergent from theirs.